Algologists treat chronic pain in the body using techniques such as radiofrequency, injection and laser. Algology means the science of pain. Those who specialize in this branch of science are called Algology (pain) specialists. In our country, it is obligatory to be a physical therapy neurology or anesthesiologist in order to specialize in Algology sub-branch. Those who are experts in these three fields of specialization take the exam opened by the government, and if they win, they receive specialization training for about 3 years. As it can be understood from here, algology specialization is a higher specialization. Pain is divided into acute and chronic. Pain specialists are usually concerned with the treatment of chronic (non-resolving) pain.
Chronic Pain: It means pain that occurs in the human body for any reason, that does not go away despite the application of conservative methods such as medication and physical therapy. Generally, if a pain lasts for more than 3 months, it is now considered as chronic pain. Chronic pain does not only manifest itself with pain, it also disrupts the psychology of the patient, reduces the quality of daily life and turns into a situation that disturbs family members.
The patient, who thinks that his pain will not go away no matter what is done, becomes demoralized, his sleep pattern is disturbed, and he has constant complaints. If these processes continue, a memory of pain occurs in the brain and difficult situations may arise. For the treatment of chronic pain, it should not always be waited for three months. Every pain that is likely to become chronic should be evaluated and treated by pain specialists from the beginning.
Some of the main disorders that cause chronic pain and impair our quality of life, manifested by the pain we treat, are as follows;
Migraine and other headaches, pain due to calcification (arthrosis) (shoulder, hip, neck, knee, waist), pain due to osteoporosis, cancer pain, pain due to paralysis, shingles, Pain that does not go away despite hernia surgery, Lower back -neck Hernias, Discogenic pains, Back-neck pains, knee pains, nerve pains, pains due to narrowing of the spinal canal, pains of muscle origin, pains due to vascular-circulatory disorders, neuropathic pains, Polyneuropathies due to diabetes.
- Pain specialists use all methods related to pain treatment in the context of traditional and complementary medicine, but also apply many methods used in modern pain treatment.
- Methods such as nerve blocks, methods of destroying the pain nerve, laser treatments, radiofrequency treatments, injection treatments, body-worn nerve stimulators, pain pacemakers and pain catheters are routinely applied by pain specialists.